• HOME
    • Contact
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  • NEW BOOKS FROM AUTHOR JASON COOK
  • News Articles
  • Book Store
  • Films
  • Blog
  • Signings & Events
  • Self Publishing
  • Competitions
  • writers in the wood writing group
  • New Page
JASON COOK CRIME AUTHOR

Gangster Runner gives up fast drugs, fast cars and fast women to become... a writer Jason Cook, tells us “how easy it is to be blinded by the lights”How does an ex-con become an inspiration to all others trying to escape the London underground scene

12/16/2015

5 Comments

 
Picture
Full of drugs, violence and sex?
​
Jason Cook, tells us “how easy it is to be blinded by the lights”
At first glance, you might be intimidated by Jason’s height and figure, he looks like he could throw a mean, right hook, however once he gets talking about his life and his future expectations you soon realised he is a genuine guy, very humble and at ease with the world, a very different life from what he use to have living amongst drugs and crime. Sitting across from me he seems very relaxed and content to talk about his life, proud of his success yet not arrogant and above all I like his honesty and willingness to talk about his past events however disheartening it might be to re-tell experiences he perhaps would rather forget
Jason has written two books, “There’s no room for jugglers in my circus” and “The gangster’s runner” and is currently writing the third book to complete the trilogy. Here he talks about his life in crime, drugs and prison and how ironically this dangerously fast life led him to writing three books and becoming his own success story.
Jason Cook, 34, was born in London, his parents decided to escape to Borehamwood to shelter their family from the crime and drugs scene which is profoundly known to exist in London. However this did not stop Jason becoming caught up in drugs; from the age of 12 Jason was dealing drugs from his bedroom window, by 17 he was dealing illegal/hard drugs and collecting debts for his gangster “friends”, ‘real friends didn’t exist, I was in a constant state of paranoia and trust was based on fear and addiction’. He was constantly at the gym trying to achieve a tougher image, building bigger muscles, so that he would be feared and respected by other dealers and criminals.  At 18, Jason faced his first visit to jail, where he came into contact with more “hardened criminals” and learnt more tricks of the trade. On his release he was digging himself further into London’s underground crime scene, creating a bigger image and status for himself: “I became a gangster’s runner, mixed up in the underworld of London, working for bigger firms and bigger people, I was a chess piece between the firms, whether it be for collecting money or driving drugs”. It was his third drug overdose which led him back into prison where he did two years nine months inside, this time allowed him to re-evaluate his life.
When Jason was released from jail, the second time, he realised ‘something’s gotta give’: “My girlfriend was still using at the time, I had to try and stay away from her, my friends were still involved in criminal activities and the gangster way of life, my family were also using at the time, I had to change where I used to go, pubs, clubs, everything, it was very difficult for me”.
Surprisingly he got into writing on his release from jail, when rehab encouraged him and his group to write down their feelings or experiences, and as Jason puts it, “it took off from there”. He decided to write about all his experiences and form them into novels. To date he has been writing for 5 years, he has successfully written two books and is currently writing the third. 
Jason describes his books as “very much his life and the experiences he faced. They show the gangster way of life, shows people getting hurt, the ripple effect of the drugs and how easy it is to be blinded by the lights”. He explains “along with its hard-hitting nature, there is also comedy worked into the book but also shows the deadly seriousness of his life in the London underground, that’s when people got hurt”.
Along with his books, Jason also does motivational speaking conferences to local communities, offering support to families or youngsters trying to lead different lives from, perhaps a life amongst drugs and anti-social or criminal behaviour. At these conferences he talks “about his life, his experiences and his involvement with gangsters and villains”, they would then do “team-building exercises, drama, role play and some scenarios where they would then come up with their own ideas”. As well as writing Jason does a mixture of other jobs including working on the doors, being a bouncer or security guard and also works on film sets helping to produce films.
What does the future hold for Jason? He is continuing with his motivational speaking within local communities for all ages and also hopes to turn all three books into films. “In the long term I would like to see a BAFTA, maybe, and for the people who came along with me to get the praise that they deserve as well”.
Jason Cook is living proof that life will throw you a lifeline, and that you need to use every opportunity given to you. Success and happiness is sought after by everyone, but some don’t grasp it when they have the chance. Life is unfair, period, but don’t let that stop you find your success, fight against all temptations and obstacles, everyone has resilience and ambition built in, “and they should channel that ambition to progress in life, don’t just follow the pack”. 
​

5 Comments

Check out this blog post by John Fleming

9/1/2015

1 Comment

 

https://thejohnfleming.wordpress.com/tag/jason-cook/

1 Comment

Former gangsters' runner releases third novel

8/10/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture






http://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/leisure/books/13576676.Former_gangsters__runner_releases_third_novel/
​

http://www.times-series.co.uk/leisure/books/13580094.Former_drug_runner_publishes_third_novel/  

Jason's third book draws on his experiences as a gangsters' runner
Hannah Worrall / Wednesday 5 August 2015 / Books
JASON Cook was just 12-years-old when he began selling drugs from his bedroom.

By the age of 16, he had started using Class A drugs and was involved with gangsters in his home town of Borehamwood.

Following his third overdose, Jason was arrested and sent to prison for 4 years and nine months - an experience which changed his life for the better.

"I joined the education programme, taking computer studies and also volunteered for a drug free wing, where I was given help and support to kick my drug habit," remembers the 39-year-old who now works as a doorman at The Farmer's Boy in St Albans.

"As part of the rehabilitation programme we were encouraged to start writing about our experiences, which I have continued with, and it is what inspired me to write my first book - There’s No Room for Jugglers in my Circus."

A father-of-3 children, Jason has recently published the third in a series of four books based on his life which he hopes will warn others not to fall into the same traps he did.
A Nice Little Earner sees the lead character Cookster pulled back into an international under world ruled by cocaine where he once again finds himself embroiled in drug smuggling, dirty money and blackmail.

"The books are about my life growing up and the tribulations I faced being used as a chess piece in the London crime world," says the Borehamwood resident. "I hope the message will go out that people should learn from my experiences."

Jason, who is also an actor and producer, regularly gives talks at libraries about his work and his novels are used in drug awareness groups.

An aspect of his life he often speaks about is his struggle with dyslexia - a condition which can make writing his books a challenging experience.
"What kept me going was when I said I was going to write a book, people kept saying you can't do it because you are dyslexic," remembers Jason.

"I thought - just keep going forward, don't let people hold you back."

His books have been met with widespread acclaim, outselling Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code in a Borehamwood branch of WH Smiths, and he is working on the next in the quadrilogy.

Share article
   

He reflects: "Now people are looking at me in a different light. It has been an amazing achievement."

To celebrate the release of A Nice Little Earner, available from authorjasoncook.com, Jason is giving away signed copies of his books as part of a competition. For details visit his website or www.facebook.com/groups/1389164961401377





0 Comments

The most Highly anticipated  Gangster book is now done and will be launched at the end of July. 

7/1/2015

5 Comments

 
The 3rd book in the true life  quadrilogy is now ready.  So lets see what the news paper critics have to say about this one.  As this one  going to be "A Nice Little Earner". "Gangster, were all Gangster round here son".  London to Columbia  and back.
Picture
Picture
5 Comments

March 30th, 2015

3/30/2015

0 Comments

 
Former drug addict juggles up a script                                       By Suruchi Sharma

Con-artists, ravers and Yardies are some of the people to be portrayed in a film charting part of the life of a former Borehamwood drug addict and gangster's runner.

Jason Cook, 32, began writing in prison about his experiences of drug use, two bouts of rehab and his time inside.

A account of his youth, called There's No Room for Jugglers in My Circus, published last year, delves into the criminal underworld of Borehamwood and is now being scripted into a film.

Mr Cook said: "My family moved to Borehamwood from Hackney when I was younger as my mum didn't want me to get into trouble there, but in a twist of fate I ended up going to prison by coming here."

He has been clean from drugs for about five years now and is getting involved with talking to people about the book and his experiences to help them with their own similar problems.

The script for the film is based on the first book as well as two unpublished books Mr Cook has written.

He said: "We don't have a finalised name for the film yet.

Mr Cook has also been working alongside organisations in the area on substance misuse awareness workshops, to educate young people and their parents about the perils and consequences of drug-taking.

Co-worker Heather Walsh said: "Jason is an absolutely brilliant person and it's unique for someone to come through what he has and then to help others. He helped with the recent youth graffiti project in Leeming Road and the Vibe youth project and received a lot of praise from the town council for his work with the Borehamwood and Elstree youth council.

"The subject of substance misuse is quite a taboo topic and so he is very brave to take this on.

"He is very ambitious and has been juggling a lot of things recently and always has the support of his family around him."

Mr Cook added: "I would love youth in the area to put their energies into something they really enjoy, like DJing, fashion or dance, and channelling their efforts into something worthwhile.

"There are still problems in Borehamwood concerning substance misuse, but if we work towards helping out people who get mixed up with drugs then that is at least a positive step forward.

© Copyright 2001-2015 Newsquest Media Group

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk



0 Comments

The Chance to be written in to the third book

3/30/2015

0 Comments

 

0 Comments

News

3/30/2015

0 Comments

 
0 Comments

A NICE LITTLE EARNER

2/2/2015

2 Comments

 
Jason has been working hard to complete his new book A Nice little Earner .
There will be four books in the quadrilogy.
If you want your name added in Jason's 4th and final book in the quadrilogy. Then let us know and it will be on a bidding bases and the person with the highest bid wins.
The bid will also get a talking role in the film. Jason has been asked to leave
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jason-Cook/30808437618?ref=hl
2 Comments

THE THIRD BOOK IS ON ITS WAY  .

5/20/2014

1 Comment

 
A NICE LITTLE ERNA 
1 Comment

News article

5/20/2014

0 Comments

 
Film-makers join forces to make short film1:05pm Thursday 5th August 2010 in NewsBy Suruchi Sharma

Jason Cook with James Sharpe and creative stylist Demitri Jones who have just completed a new short film called Tunnel Visions
TWO film-makers from the area have joined forces to create a short movie filmed in Borehamwood and London.

The film, produced by Borehamwood resident Jason Cook, is called Tunnel Visions and is set on the London Underground and also at Canterbury House, in Borehamwood.

Mr Cook, 34, from Hertforde Road, was joined by Shenley resident James Sharpe working on the film and it is available to watch online through Virgin Media Shorts.

He said: “It was great working with James on this. We met through mutual friends and I also helped him out on one of his films, Saving James.


“The shoot for this movie lasted one day and everybody worked really well together especially the director Djonny Chen and all the cast and crew.”

Mr Cook's production company The Way Forward Productions is making a film of his first book, called There's No Room for Jugglers in my Circus, which is a fictionalised account of his youth in Borehamwood.

The book is the first in a trilogy looking at his life involved with Borehamwood's criminal underworld.

Mr Cook was author of the week at BBC Three Counties radio last month and is looking for investors for his film.

He said: “It’s all going really well now as all three books have been scripted and we’re now at the stage where we are looking for investors and product placement for the film.”

  • % Fixed Remortgage£150,000 Mortgage From £275/mo. Get Lower Payments Now. Free Quotes

    www.remortgagequotesonline.co.uk


Mr Sharpe, 37, who worked as sound recordist on the short film, completed his own film in Shenley called Saving James in February, which is now available on iTunes.

He said: “It was good to work with Jason and nice we were able to help each other out.

“The shoot started early in the morning and we finished at 1am the next day but it was fun to do and we’re pleased with the end product.

“I’m now going to be working on a movie this month to be filmed in Shenley called Temporary Spirits. It’s a great area to film in and I hope it will all turn out well.”

To watch Tunnel Visions log on to www.tunnelvisionsmovie.co.uk/flash/TunnelVisions_vm.html To learn more about Mr Cook’s production company log on to www.thewayforwardproductions.co.uk

News and sport from Borehamwood, Elstree, Radlett, Shenley, Aldenham and Letchmore Heath
0 Comments
Forward>>

    Author

    "One line was never enough and a thousand was way to many."
    Cocaine. Fancy a line then why not read between them in the books by Jason Cook 

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.